THE POTATO CROP

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 222, 18 March 1912, Page 5

THE POTATO CROP

The following letter has been received by Mr. J. McNeil, New Plymouth:— Perhaps it would interest you to know the present condition and indications of the 1912 potato crop in New Zealand. I have just returned from a trip over practically the whole Dominion, made for the purpose of seeing what the crops were like, and the following information is compiled from notes which I have taken en 1 route.

In the Auckland district potato crops are better than they have been for years, especially in the Waikato and Pukekohe districts. Blight does not appear to have done much damage, and the quality of the tubers is good. About 10,000 sacks are still held by growers, but these arc gradually coming on to the markets, north and south, so that by the time the southern potatoes are ready I would say that the northern stocks will be depleted. Haw.ke's Bay district has been suffering from a severe drought, and the potato crops have suffered considerably; that is to say, there will be smaller crops than usual, though the quality should be good. In Wellington district I noticed some very fair crops, and the rainfall has been sufficient. There are incjications of late blight, and the area m potatoes does not seem very great. In Taranaki district some of the crops seem to be very good, though there is every indication of blight, and with the usual Taranaki rainfall and moist weather I anticipate a lot ofj damage will be done to the potatoes. In North Canterbury there is a large area in potatoes, but much damage has been done".by the Christmas floods. In fact all the best potatoes—that is those growing in the low-lying country—are gone, and those which are left have suffered with the heavy rains, because the ground remained so long wet, and the usual work of weeding, hoeing and moulding was thereby retarded. Frosts in November and December also played bavoc with a great many crops, and I anticipate only about half the yield which was given in the Government statistics.

This also applies to South Canterbury. In travelling from Oamaru to Timaru one can see whole paddocks of potatoes which have been destroyed by the December and January floods, and tfte blight- seems to be making great head- ; ■way in the crops which have not been sprayed. In the Oamaru district the crops are fair, but with the appearance of blight the growers are getting anxious and are. in many cases digging the potatoes and putting them on" the Dunedin market. In Southland there was every prospect of good crops until two months, ago, .but with continued rains, and' a blizzard and frost a fortnight ago, the prospects are now anything but good, as the yield is sure to be small and blight prevalent. In summing up I consider that the crops of Canterbury and Otago will only yield about half, and Southland about one-third of what was expected when the Government statistics were taken. Potatoes are very scarce in Australia now. and one can imagine what a demand there will be in the course of a month or so in all the Australian/ markets. I have made careful observation of the above facts and my statements are not made at random, and I feel justified in advising growers who are lucky onoush to have good sound tubers to store them carefully, for I believe that before the end of the present season we will have good prices. Growers who have blight-affected tubers should sell as soon as possible, as it will not pay to store blighted potatoes. I give the abovt- information in good faith and trust that it will benefit those who act upon it.—l am, etc., H. E. McGOWEN. Willow Bridge, South Canterbury, March 7, 1912.